Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck accident cases are typically more complex and more costly to litigate than other types of vehicle accident cases. In addition, drivers of semis, tractor trailers, and other commercial trucks and buses are subject to a variety of different safety rules and regulations that other drivers are not. When truck drivers break these rules and regulations, it often results in severe and life-changing injuries and that often have deadly consequences. People injured in a truck accident need a skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced truck accident lawyer by their side. Not only will a truck accident lawyer do everything possible to maximize the injured person’s recovery, they will do everything in their power to make the process as stress free as can be.
If you’re suffering from a truck accident injury in West Virginia, Ohio, or Pennsylvania, call GKT to speak with a truck accident lawyer who is best suited to handle your case. We know the ins and outs of litigating a truck accident lawsuit and have the experience to back it up. Consultations are always free and we never collect a fee unless we make a recovery in your truck accident case. Our truck accident lawyers are always available at any time by calling (304) 845-9750, by Live Chat 24/7 at GKT.com, or online.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are typically caused by a variety of factors. A truck accident may simply be due to the careless actions of the truck driver or because the truck driver failed to follow federal truck safety rules and regulations such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. That’s why it’s so important for truck accident victims to have a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer on their side. Below are some of the more common causes of truck accidents:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Lack of truck driver experience
- Overweight truck
- Failure to maintain brakes and other truck maintenance issues
- Unfamiliarity with the road
- Speeding
- Failure to follow road signs
- Road conditions
- Rain, snow, ice or other weather condition
- Alcohol or drug impairment
- Traffic congestion
According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study, the “critical reason” behind most truck accidents were truck driver errors in performance, recognition, or decision-making. Truck maintenance issues and environmental issues such as rain, snow, and ice were also found to be critical factors.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents can be extremely violent crashes, and the injuries sustained in tractor trailer crashes are some of the worst injuries suffered on our roadways. While some truck accidents only cause relatively minor injuries, many truck accidents cause painful, traumatic, and sometimes permanent injuries. Tragically, some truck accidents cause death and leave behind grieving family and friends searching for answers. The best truck accident lawyers, like those at GKT, will have experience handling different truck accident injuries. Some of the more common truck accident injuries are below:
Brain injury
Truck accidents can cause concussions, brain bleeds, brain swelling, and other injury to the brain. Brain injuries can heal in a matter of days or cause permanent disability, including loss of motor skills, loss of function, loss of senses, loss of speech, and a variety of other disabilities. Brain injuries suffered in a truck accident more often result in permanent disability than in other types of vehicle accidents.
Spine injury
Truck accidents can cause spine injuries, including, bulging, herniated, and slipped discs or temporary or permanent paralysis. Spine injuries can cause permanent pain to the back and neck. Spine injuries resulting from a truck accident may never completely heal. Like other injuries, spine injuries sustained in a truck accident tend to be more severe than those in other vehicle accidents and are more likely to cause permanent disability such as paralysis.
Amputation
Because of the size and weight of most trucks, leg or arm amputations are less than uncommon truck accident injuries. Arm and leg amputations can cause permanent disability and loss of future income.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are a frequent truck accident injury and can strike any part of the body. Broken arms and broken legs are some of the more common broken bones suffered in a truck accident and can be extremely painful. While most broken bones heal completely, some may result in permanent disfigurement or loss of use.
Muscle, tendon, and ligament tears
Truck accidents can cause severe muscle, tendon, and ligament strains and tears. Like broken bones, muscle tendon, and ligament injuries suffered in a truck accident can be painful and can result in permanent loss of use.
Burns
Burns are some of the most painful injuries people suffer in truck accidents. Whether it is a 1st degree burn, 2nd degree burn, 3rd degree burn, or 4th degree burn, a burn is particularly susceptible to infection. Burns can cause cosmetic issues and disfigurement and even permanent disability.
Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, people die in truck accidents every year. Because of the size and weight of trucks and other commercial vehicles, death is more likely in truck accident cases than in other vehicle crashes. When a person dies of their truck accident injuries, their family may have a wrongful death case.
Common Truck Accident Types
Like other vehicle accidents, truck accidents are not uniform and can happen under a variety of circumstances. Having a truck accident lawyer experienced in the specific truck accident you were involved in is extremely important. The truck accident attorneys at GKT have represented clients injured in a variety of truck crashes, including:
Rear-end Collision or Fender Bender Truck Accident
A rear-end collision or “fender bender” accident is when the front end of a truck crashes into the back end of another vehicle or vice versa. Truck fender benders are some of the more common truck accidents and can be caused by a variety of factors, including a distracted truck driver, truck driver fatigue, truck maintenance issues like brakes, or environmental issues like rain, snow, or ice.
